Americans Still Angry at Banks But Not Likely to Switch: Survey

Even though nearly eight in 10 Americans feel the nation’s big banks are to blame for the financial crisis of 2008, most would not switch to a credit union or community bank.

That’s according the Consumer Banking Insights Study, an online Harris poll of more than 1,000 U.S. adults and commissioned by more than 200 community banks and credit unions in partnership with Kasasa, a national brand of rewards checking and saving accounts.

Seventy-one percent of the respondents said they believe big banks haven't made up for their role in the financial crisis. Among megabank customers, 26% said they sometimes feel guilty for doing business with a big bank.

Still, their anger and guilt is probably not enough to make the survey’s respondents switch financial institutions.

Only about one in four, or 23%, of the megabank customers said they're at least somewhat likely to switch their checking account to a local community bank or credit union this year.

“There’s still a perception out there that community banks and credit unions can't compete with the big banks when it comes to products and services,” said Gabe Krajicek, CEO of BancVue in Austin, Texas, which created Kasasa. “But if consumers were to research their options, they'd find that perception to be untrue.”

According to the survey, banking locally is important for most Americans, with 78% saying it’s at least somewhat important for them to use a local bank or credit union. Those who do bank locally report very high levels of loyalty and trust when it comes to their bank.

Among community bank and credit union customers and members, 93% said they trust their local financial institutions, and 84% feel loyal towards them.

“Following the financial crisis, people really want to support local banks that create jobs and boost local communities,” Krajicek said.

Among those who feel it’s at least somewhat important to bank locally, growth of their local economy (57%) and support of employment in their town (56%) were the top two reasons cited.

Opposition toward the big national banks is cited as a reason among 30% of those who at least somewhat value banking locally.

Kasasa conducted the online poll in December 2013. Megabank customers were defined as checking account holders who consider one of the big national banks to be their primary banking institution, and community bank and credit union customers or members are those who consider a local community bank or a credit union to be their primary banking institution.